[Exclusive]“M Countdown,” Behind the Scenes of the Legendary “Chiikawa Stage”: “Bigger Than Expected… Different Angles from Other Artists” [Exclusive Interview]

*This content was translated by AI.

Mnet has created another “legendary stage.” This time, it staged characters from the popular manga “Chiikawa” on the “M Countdown” stage, leaving a special event.

On the episode of “M Countdown” (hereinafter “M Countdown”) broadcast on the 1st, characters from the popular Japanese manga “Chiikawa” (Korean title “Moon-Jak-Gwi”) appeared on stage in mascot costume form, capturing attention. “Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island,” which was released in Japan last year, surpassed 10 million viewers locally. This film was released in Korea on September 30 and immediately took the top spot on the domestic box office.

StarNews asked the production team of “M Countdown” about the behind-the-scenes story of this special “Chiikawa” stage broadcast. When asked about the background for featuring “Chiikawa” characters on “M Countdown,” the production team stated, “Chiikawa is also widely loved among K-pop fans, who are a major viewership segment for M Countdown, so we naturally became interested. We constantly think about what content viewers are passionate about right now and how we can present it as unique M Countdown content.”

They added, “We have continued to make new attempts in both genre and stage production methods, from musical number stages and project group stages from dramas to stages utilizing the virtual production stage owned by CJ ENM. Under the direction of expanding the possibilities of what a music show can present on stage, we wanted to deliver a different kind of enjoyment with the Chiikawa members this time, which is why we reached out to them.”

Since it was a stage where giant puppets, not humans, sang, there were likely aspects that required careful attention, such as camera angles, differing from existing stages. Regarding this, the production team explained, “The newest part was the camera angle. When we actually met them, the members were bigger than expected, so the feel of composing the screen was different from when filming other K-pop artists. We considered the size and proportions of the members while thinking about angles that would well capture their unique cuteness and movements on screen.”

When asked what effects they expect through this special “M Countdown” stage, the production team said, “We hope it becomes a stage where those who love Chiikawa can enjoy the characters’ charm in a new way, and that it serves as an opportunity for M Countdown viewers to become interested in animation and theatrical films.” They continued, “We also want more people to know that ‘M Countdown’ is a program that continues new attempts by connecting diverse content with music and stages. Creating the expectation of ‘What new stage can we see on M Countdown next?’ is the effect we desire.”

“Chiikawa” is a manga serialized on X since May 1, 2017, by Japanese illustrator Nagano, who is famous for “Nagomikuma.” The manga features characters that are “something small and cute,” presenting various stories such as healing, comedy, and thriller, along with fresh fun. It has over 5 million official X followers, has risen to become a top popular IP in Japan, and is gaining popularity globally, including in Korea.

On this day’s “M Countdown,” four characters appeared on stage: the main “Chiikawa” characters “Chiikawa,” “Hachiware,” and “Usagi,” as well as “Siren,” a special character from “Chiikawa Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island.” It was the first time in history that mascot costumes appeared on “M Countdown,” and it was also the first time an overseas character visited Korea for a music show, so the “Chiikawa” stage gave viewers a fresh shock.

The four “Chiikawa” characters appeared wearing leaf hula skirts and flower crowns, which are major costumes in this “Chiikawa Movie,” and performed cute movements and quite precise choreography to the song “The Island Song,” the film’s title track. In the first half, Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi showed a bright and peaceful atmosphere, but from the middle of the performance, Siren appeared, shifting the mood to a darker tone.

“The Island Song,” with lyrics written by author Nagano, was translated into Korean for “M Countdown” and boasted addictiveness as it repeated lyrics such as “Full of delicious food stalls. Cotton candy beer and butter potatoes. Octopus bread, beef hot pot, kebab. Shiny sauce and stir-fried noodles.”

After the stage video was uploaded to Mnet’s official YouTube channel, it surpassed 500,000 views in one day, and the relay dance also received attention. Viewers showed a strong reaction. In particular, comments related to the animation content poured in, expanding the worldview.

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*This content was translated by AI.